Welcome to PocketGamer.biz's weekly rundown of the past 168 hours in the gaming industry.
A lot can happen in a given week, and it's natural for some stories to slip past the most eagle-eyed among us. Luckily for you, we're here - as ever - to present the stories that we feel made the biggest impact over the past seven days.
If you're looking for a quick snapshot of the major trends and news in ...
Appy Nation is enticing our competitive spirits out to play once again via its new game Tile Temple Tactics.
It's a digital boardgame for up to two people, either through network multiplayer or same-device gaming.
Tile Temple Tactics starts with a grid filled with numbered tiles. The first player picks up one of the tiles, and the number on that tile is added to her score.
The second play...
As we reach the end of spring and move into summer, thoughts might turn to stepping away from games and out into the pollen-filled air.
Fortunately, with a bunch of fine-looking mobile games on the horizon, you can have your cake and eat it.
These eight games are set to surface over the coming weeks, and should provide a great deal of entertainment regardless of your proclivities.
Of cour...
Prolific digital boardgame designer Reiner Knizia's latest effort is called Supremacy. And, well, its hand-drawn graphics look great.
It's a 1- to 4-player strategy game in which you compete and battle to take over a scenic archipelago.
As a leader, you'll deploy your units across the 18 islands, which are split into rows and columns. You have to bear in mind the abilities of the eight diffe...
This week, Peter and I take to the AppSpy Twitch airwaves for another live episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast.
Joining us from the States for the first time is 148Apps editor Rob Rich, who brings with him a wealth of iOS expertise, and some gripes about Final Fantasy protagonists.
We talk about the upcoming 3DS sequels for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Ace Attorney, as well as potential new...
What is it about watching progress bars fill up that's so satisfying? If there's one game known for its addictive properties in this regard, it's Zynga's infamous FarmVille series.
The original version of FarmVille 2 launched on Facebook back in 2012. Now it's back for iOS and Android devices with plenty of supposed optimisations saving both time and social spamming.
I have to admit, this is...
Every Friday, Pocket Gamer offers hands-on impressions of the week's three best new Android games.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
By 2K Games – buy on Android (£7.19 / $9.99)
We've already waxed lyrical about the Gold Award-winning iOS version of this console port, but it's always nice to have another go.
This is a hefty chunk of brilliantly chiselled strategy that fits perfectly into your pock...
9 Elefants is a Professor Layton-style mystery that mixes together crime solving and logical conundrums in a stylised Parisian setting.
You play the daughter of a kidnapped professor who, aided by a talking cat, has to try to get to the bottom of a mystery involving time cameras, missing cogs, and a man wearing what looks like an elephant mask.
There's a good deal of whimsy here, and the art...
Disney is busy proving it knows how to milk a goat dry as it brings the insanely popular Chinese cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf to our smartphones in a recognisable, if uninspired, rebranding of physics game Where's My Water?
Just to clarify, the whole XYY thing comes from the character's Chinese name, Xi Yang Yang. It's not really important as far as the game goes, but cartoon fans mig...
We as a species probably won't get around to conquering galaxies until we've produced very specific equipment for the task.
Principally, a portable machine capable of cloning humans as easily and efficiently as a grill cooks up hamburgers. That way, whenever the expedition encounters slavering space-beasts or poisoned terrain, #69403 can pick up where the hapless #69402 left off.
Shattered P...
A rich seam of squishy madness runs through Bamba. It's part frustration simulator, part crazed unicycle balancer, and exactly the sort of ten minute blast that fits neatly into a quick-grab gaming session.
The game is all about making sure a moustache-clad acrobat stays balanced on his one-wheeled mode of transport.
You do this by tapping. Tap once and he'll set off forward, tap again a...
This is really two reviews in one, though they’re quite inseparable.
On the one hand you need to know about the calibre of the story that’s at the heart of this digital choose-your-own-adventure gamebook, and on the other it’s important to discuss the quality of its smartphone adaptation.
Let’s start with the former, since there’s a possibility that the story’s genre might not be your bag, n...
These days, it seems like video game character can't stay in the genres they're known for.
First Angry Birds appeared in a turn-based RPG, now Pac-Man's left the arcade screen behind and surfaced in a match-three RPG called Pac-Man Monsters.
At first blush, it's easy to dismiss Pac-Man Monsters as Puzzle Dragons with Pac-Man tacked on - but there's actually a good bit of commitment to the ...
It's pretty safe to say by now that Clash of Clans is a phenomenon.
Practically everyone with an iOS and / or Android device has had a crack at building and fortifying and beautifying their own village, all the while raiding other Clans and dominating the various Leagues.
With such massive interest, it was only a matter of time until we launched a Pocket Gamer Community dedicated to it, and ...
When did plants get so militant?
First the zombie-slaying line defence action of Plants vs Zombies had us fearfully eyeing our potted plants, and now Bomb Buds parachutes in under cover of darkness with its turn-based arena warfare.
We'd say it was like Worms with green fingers, but of course worms don't have fingers. Nonetheless, Team17's long-running action-strategy series is the prevailin...
True Axis has updated the Gold Award-winning True Skate with a new level for you to grind and kickflip around.
It's called Double Infinity due to the infinity symbol-shaped bowls that feature in this outdoor concrete park.
This update follows The Schoolyard level that was added to True Skate in February. You should also remember The Warehouse level update that arrived last month.
The...
Bugs aren't known to be the brightest creatures on earth. Often industrious, occasionally deadly, frequently beautiful. But intelligent? Hardly.
It's a trait that FreeDum, a game all about rescuing bugs, shares.
You are Dum, a googly-eyed ladybird forced to run the gauntlet through a number of deadly obstacle courses set up by a cruel child.
Viewing the action from above, you must guide D...
Updated on April 24th 2014, at 13:48: Sega has also announced an incoming update for Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed.
On April 29th, you see, Wreck-It Ralph and Metal Sonic will be included in the roster of unlockable characters.
There will also be two new tracks: the beachfront resort from OutRun Bay and an asteroid-filled Galactic Parade track.
Lastly, the new Boss Cup Challeng...
Football management simulation One For Eleven, which we previewed back in March, has finally been released globally for iOS and Android.
One For Eleven gives you the opportunity to lead a team of the world's best football players - such as Gerrard, Messi, and Suárez - all of whom are based on their real-life counterparts and boast accurate stats for things like tackling and heading.
Naturall...
Auro is a game we've had our eyes on for a while now.
It's from the developer behind 100 Rogues and Empire, and we've just found out it's set to hit the App Store and the Google Play Store on July 1st.
From the beta footage in the trailer above it certainly looks impressive, and appears to have an intriguing 'pushing monsters into puddles' mechanic at its core. That's something we can al...
For safety purposes, You are advised
not to give out any Personal Information (i.e. Address, Phone Number, etc.)
while on IRC. Because IRC is a Live Chat, The #1
Teen Chat Place can not take responsibility for any content
seen by minors. If you feel offended by any content in the channel, please
request Operator assistance for help with the matter. And don't forget to
Bookmark this page so you can come back later.
Welcome to PocketGamer.biz's weekly rundown of the past 168 hours in the gaming industry.
A lot can happen in a given week, and it's natural for some stories to slip past the most eagle-eyed among us. Luckily for you, we're here - as ever - to present the stories that we feel made the biggest impact over the past seven days.
If you're looking for a quick snapshot of the major trends and news in ...
Appy Nation is enticing our competitive spirits out to play once again via its new game Tile Temple Tactics.
It's a digital boardgame for up to two people, either through network multiplayer or same-device gaming.
Tile Temple Tactics starts with a grid filled with numbered tiles. The first player picks up one of the tiles, and the number on that tile is added to her score.
The second play...
As we reach the end of spring and move into summer, thoughts might turn to stepping away from games and out into the pollen-filled air.
Fortunately, with a bunch of fine-looking mobile games on the horizon, you can have your cake and eat it.
These eight games are set to surface over the coming weeks, and should provide a great deal of entertainment regardless of your proclivities.
Of cour...
Prolific digital boardgame designer Reiner Knizia's latest effort is called Supremacy. And, well, its hand-drawn graphics look great.
It's a 1- to 4-player strategy game in which you compete and battle to take over a scenic archipelago.
As a leader, you'll deploy your units across the 18 islands, which are split into rows and columns. You have to bear in mind the abilities of the eight diffe...
This week, Peter and I take to the AppSpy Twitch airwaves for another live episode of the Pocket Gamer Podcast.
Joining us from the States for the first time is 148Apps editor Rob Rich, who brings with him a wealth of iOS expertise, and some gripes about Final Fantasy protagonists.
We talk about the upcoming 3DS sequels for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Ace Attorney, as well as potential new...
What is it about watching progress bars fill up that's so satisfying? If there's one game known for its addictive properties in this regard, it's Zynga's infamous FarmVille series.
The original version of FarmVille 2 launched on Facebook back in 2012. Now it's back for iOS and Android devices with plenty of supposed optimisations saving both time and social spamming.
I have to admit, this is...
Every Friday, Pocket Gamer offers hands-on impressions of the week's three best new Android games.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
By 2K Games – buy on Android (£7.19 / $9.99)
We've already waxed lyrical about the Gold Award-winning iOS version of this console port, but it's always nice to have another go.
This is a hefty chunk of brilliantly chiselled strategy that fits perfectly into your pock...
9 Elefants is a Professor Layton-style mystery that mixes together crime solving and logical conundrums in a stylised Parisian setting.
You play the daughter of a kidnapped professor who, aided by a talking cat, has to try to get to the bottom of a mystery involving time cameras, missing cogs, and a man wearing what looks like an elephant mask.
There's a good deal of whimsy here, and the art...
Disney is busy proving it knows how to milk a goat dry as it brings the insanely popular Chinese cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf to our smartphones in a recognisable, if uninspired, rebranding of physics game Where's My Water?
Just to clarify, the whole XYY thing comes from the character's Chinese name, Xi Yang Yang. It's not really important as far as the game goes, but cartoon fans mig...
We as a species probably won't get around to conquering galaxies until we've produced very specific equipment for the task.
Principally, a portable machine capable of cloning humans as easily and efficiently as a grill cooks up hamburgers. That way, whenever the expedition encounters slavering space-beasts or poisoned terrain, #69403 can pick up where the hapless #69402 left off.
Shattered P...
A rich seam of squishy madness runs through Bamba. It's part frustration simulator, part crazed unicycle balancer, and exactly the sort of ten minute blast that fits neatly into a quick-grab gaming session.
The game is all about making sure a moustache-clad acrobat stays balanced on his one-wheeled mode of transport.
You do this by tapping. Tap once and he'll set off forward, tap again a...
This is really two reviews in one, though they’re quite inseparable.
On the one hand you need to know about the calibre of the story that’s at the heart of this digital choose-your-own-adventure gamebook, and on the other it’s important to discuss the quality of its smartphone adaptation.
Let’s start with the former, since there’s a possibility that the story’s genre might not be your bag, n...
These days, it seems like video game character can't stay in the genres they're known for.
First Angry Birds appeared in a turn-based RPG, now Pac-Man's left the arcade screen behind and surfaced in a match-three RPG called Pac-Man Monsters.
At first blush, it's easy to dismiss Pac-Man Monsters as Puzzle Dragons with Pac-Man tacked on - but there's actually a good bit of commitment to the ...
It's pretty safe to say by now that Clash of Clans is a phenomenon.
Practically everyone with an iOS and / or Android device has had a crack at building and fortifying and beautifying their own village, all the while raiding other Clans and dominating the various Leagues.
With such massive interest, it was only a matter of time until we launched a Pocket Gamer Community dedicated to it, and ...
When did plants get so militant?
First the zombie-slaying line defence action of Plants vs Zombies had us fearfully eyeing our potted plants, and now Bomb Buds parachutes in under cover of darkness with its turn-based arena warfare.
We'd say it was like Worms with green fingers, but of course worms don't have fingers. Nonetheless, Team17's long-running action-strategy series is the prevailin...
True Axis has updated the Gold Award-winning True Skate with a new level for you to grind and kickflip around.
It's called Double Infinity due to the infinity symbol-shaped bowls that feature in this outdoor concrete park.
This update follows The Schoolyard level that was added to True Skate in February. You should also remember The Warehouse level update that arrived last month.
The...
Bugs aren't known to be the brightest creatures on earth. Often industrious, occasionally deadly, frequently beautiful. But intelligent? Hardly.
It's a trait that FreeDum, a game all about rescuing bugs, shares.
You are Dum, a googly-eyed ladybird forced to run the gauntlet through a number of deadly obstacle courses set up by a cruel child.
Viewing the action from above, you must guide D...
![[Update] Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sega's Gold Award-winning kart-'em-up, is free right now on iOS and Android](http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/thumbs/na-giaom_sonic-and-all-stars-racing-transformed3_jpg_100.jpg)
Updated on April 24th 2014, at 13:48: Sega has also announced an incoming update for Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed.
On April 29th, you see, Wreck-It Ralph and Metal Sonic will be included in the roster of unlockable characters.
There will also be two new tracks: the beachfront resort from OutRun Bay and an asteroid-filled Galactic Parade track.
Lastly, the new Boss Cup Challeng...
Football management simulation One For Eleven, which we previewed back in March, has finally been released globally for iOS and Android.
One For Eleven gives you the opportunity to lead a team of the world's best football players - such as Gerrard, Messi, and Suárez - all of whom are based on their real-life counterparts and boast accurate stats for things like tackling and heading.
Naturall...
Auro is a game we've had our eyes on for a while now.
It's from the developer behind 100 Rogues and Empire, and we've just found out it's set to hit the App Store and the Google Play Store on July 1st.
From the beta footage in the trailer above it certainly looks impressive, and appears to have an intriguing 'pushing monsters into puddles' mechanic at its core. That's something we can al...
